Davie delays decision on turning off red-light cameras

August 3, 2011|By Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel

Davie may be on the verge of a trend in Broward County: getting rid of those controversial red-light cameras.

But not just yet.

On Wednesday, council members agreed to wait until Aug. 17 to decide whether to pull the plug on the cameras, to give town officials time to renegotiate the contract with American Traffic Solutions. If negotiations fail, Davie would become the first town in Broward to turn off the cameras.

Red-light cameras have sprung up throughout South Florida, from Miami to Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. American Traffic Solutions has contracts with 21 cities in Miami-Dade County, seven cities in Broward and four in Palm Beach County. Competitor ACS, a Xerox Company, has contracts with Miami Beach and Coral Springs.

But the camera programs have been beleaguered with court challenges and unexpected costs. Several cities are questioning the use of the cameras – Hialeah voted to end its contract with ATS in June; Delray Beach officials decided to hold off until the legal challenges are settled.

Most drivers challenging the tickets have been victorious. Judges in both Broward and Palm Beach counties have tossed out more tickets then they upheld. Cities have been forced to send attorneys and police officers to court to defend the fines, adding to the program's cost.

Fort Lauderdale expected to nail about 250 red-light runners a day and collect $3 million in fines a year. But only 15 drivers a day are being cited and Fort Lauderdale may end up with barely $500,000 in revenue.